Es remained silent, puzzled by the exchange happening. She rested on the stone edge of the pool, exchanging a glance with Althea who looked like she wanted to say sothing, but Revana spoke first, her voice cool and unbothered.
"And yet here you are," Revana said evenly, leaning back against the edge, her gaze fixed on the glass wine in her grasp. "Perhaps they’ve let more than just the standards slip."
"It’s actually surprising, is what we ant to say," Naya said, feigning thoughtfulness, "that soone like you would even know how to relax in a place like this. After all, growing up in such unfortunate circumstances must make luxury seem foreign to you."
Es felt the insult like a lash, and it was aid not just at Revana, it hit Althea as well. She had assud such useless people were only in Illyria, but it seed they sprouted everywhere like weeds.
She rembered Althea telling her that she and her sister had risen from poor backgrounds in their pack, their parents late and far from prestigious, but to Es, the two of them had more strength and grace then either of these noblewon preening in front of her.
Es knew better than to engage directly; if anything, showing that they were affected would give these intruders what they wanted.
Althea on the other hand, couldn’t hide her indignation as she retorted. "I suppose it’s easy to judge others when you’ve never had to work for anything in your life. So of us understand the value of this kind of place because we know what it ans to earn it."
Naya raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by her speech. "Earn it? Oh, darling Althea, you’ve totally misunderstood. Places like this are ant for those who are born into them, not... adopted by circumstances."
"And yet here we are again, bathing in the sa water." Revana shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm"Does that bother you, Queen Naya of the infinite source of irritation? How does it feel knowing your very existence is living proof that failure has a sense of humor?"
Naya’s face flushed with anger, her lips parting to retort, but before she could say anything, Macbeth quickly cut her off, stepping in with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
"What truly bothers us," she began icily. "Is having to endure the company of those who are clearly beneath us. You ought to know your place, Revana."
Es wasn’t sure what compelled her to intervene, but the toxic tension these won brought to the bathhouse, disrupting the entire atmosphere, was enough to make her snap.
"And what place would that be?" she asked, gaining all four of their attention, her gaze fixed on Macbeth. "The one where we sit here quietly while you hurl insults at those who have more courage in a single day than I imagine either of you could muster in a lifeti?"
Es took a brief pause and continued. "There are far better ways to talk to people, and just because soone holds a different rank doesn’t give you the right to dean them. She’s the Alpha’s beta, and she can rein orders on you because of that status. Her sister is a brave warrior of your land. Without people like them, your ho wouldn’t exist, so try to be more respectful."
"And who are you to interfere?" Naya snapped, her eyes zeroed in on the woman with them.
"Don’t go near that one," Althea warned with a smirk. "I’d tread carefully if I were you. Unless, of course, you’re eager to face the Alpha’s wrath. That woman? She’s the Alpha’s woman, his rightful mate. Do you even know what would happen to the both of you if she were to tell the Alpha you ruined her day? He wouldn’t be so rciful to the both of you."
The room went unnaturally quiet, the air thick with tension as the two ladies tried to process the news Althea just dropped.
While they were wide-eyed and distracted, Althea and Revana seized their chance, yanking the two by their legs and pulling them into the wide tub. The startled shriek that followed echoed throughout the bathhouse as the ladies splashed into the tub, all elegance forgotten.
Monts later, Althea, Es and Revana clambered out of the tub, slipping on their delicate robes with a chorus of giggles. They scooped up their clothes and headed for the door, their laughter bouncing off the walls.
"Enjoy the bath," Althea called cheerfully over her shoulder, as Naya and Macbeth floundered to reach the edge.
"We’ll get you for this! Just wait!" Naya spluttered, already on the verge of tears, her hair plastered to her face, her robe soaked and clinging miserably to her skin.
Everything was an absolute disaster.
anwhile, the three ladies, all dressed in their normal outfits, but with wet hair and Rosy cheeks from the steam, exited the bathhouse, giggling like school girls over their shared amusent.
"Did you catch Naya’s face? I swear she thought she was drifting into oblivion." Revana couldn’t help but mock her expression. "Soone really needs to introduce that woman to dignity."
Althea bead, her eyes bright with admiration as she glanced at Es. "You were amazing when you stood up for us! Honestly, I’ve t plenty of won like Naya back when I thought nobles were all the sa, but you’ve shattered that illusion. I knew we’d all get along!" She tugged her sister closer in triumph, while Revana rolled her eyes and huffed, though not quite able to disagree.
"She still has to prove she’s capable of being Luna material around here," Revana crossed her arm and gave Es a casual once-over. "Since that bonehead Naya and twat face Macbeth have sniffed you out, it’s only a matter of ti before the rumors spread in the damned, and trust , not everyone is going to roll out the welco mat just because you’re the Alpha’s mate. You’ve got two strikes already, you’re an Illyrian, and a Montague."
Es opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Revana added with a smirk. "But then again, the Alpha seems to think you’re up to the challenge. Are you up for the challenge? I don’t believe the Alpha would be mated to a weakling either, so I’m asking you, are you a weakling, Es?"
Es quickly shook her head, but Revana’s piercing stare made her second-guess herself. "Prove that in tomorrow’s exercise. Let’s go."
As Revana marched off with the confidence of soone who’s never doubted anything in her life, Es blinked, trying to process the ntion of tomorrow’s exercise.
Tomorrow?
Althea nudged her gently with a grin, probably sensing the panic creeping in.
"You’ll be fine. Seriously, co on," she said, pulling Es along to catch up with Revana.
Es’s mind wandered back to Althea’s comnt, how she referred to her as the Alpha’s woman. Was she really? She hadn’t exactly signed up for this, and yet, it was starting to feel like refusing wasn’t an even option. From the way things were going, she half-expected them to pounce on her if she dared to try and refuse their Alpha.
As they strolled past the edge of a sprawling forest, Es noticed the huge building, bustling with children dragging their reluctant parents along. The chaos of last minute registration was in full swing, as it would be closing in two days. It took Es a mont to realize the towering building was actually the shadowbrook academy.
"Did you know Revana is going to be teaching the students during the training session?" Althea practically vibrated with excitent, her eyes wide with admiration. "My sister is SO amazing, she’s been asked to train the elite kids as well! You are going to let Finnian attend, right?"
Es’s gaze lingered on the academy before a small, knowing smile crept across her lips.
—----～♡～--------
Later that day, Donovan made his way to Irwin’s ho.
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